Companion Animals Are Dying in Hot Weather—These Are the Reported Cases

Last updated on May 1, 2026:

The number of dogs and other companion animals who have reportedly died from heat-related causes in 2026:

4

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Every year, PETA receives reports about dogs, cats, and other animals who have died after being left in hot cars or outside during hot weather. In 2025 alone, 140 animals endured heat–related deaths and another 365 were rescued from the heat—and those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t.


Year	Deaths	Deaths	Rescues	Rescues
2026	4	See the list.	14	See the list.
2025	140	See the list.	365	See the list.
2024	111	See the list.	388	See the list.
2023	163	See the list.	855	See the list.
2022	58	See the list.	490	See the list.
2021	60	See the list.	145	See the list.
2020	32	See the list.	50	See the list.
2019	53	See the list.	125	See the list.
2018	60	See the list.	93	See the list.

How to Keep Your Animal Companion Safe in Hot Weather

The following list is a compilation of heat-related deaths of companion animals reported in 2026:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Who Died	Notes
4/15/2026	Culpeper, Virginia	1	A dog died after being left inside a hot car.
4/13/2026	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina	1	A dog died after being left in a parked car, with the windows partially open. When police arrived, the large-breed dog was unresponsive, lethargic, and struggling to breathe. The dog was taken to an animal hospital but died from heat exhaustion.
4/6/2026	Deland, Florida	2	Two dogs died from heatstroke after being left inside a hot car in a Walmart parking lot for over two hours. Police found one dog panting, and another lying down, dead. The other dog died during transport to the vet. The dog’s internal temperature was 109 degrees.

The following list is a compilation of heat-related rescues of companion animals reported in 2026:

Date	Location	Number of Dogs or Other Animals Rescued	Notes
4/22/2026	Houston, Texas	1	A husky mix was rescued from a hot car in downtown Houston by police. The dog was in the car for more than two hours in direct sunlight. The dog was panting heavily and pacing back and forth with the windows coated in dried drool. Temperatures inside the car had reached 113 degrees.
4/18/2026	Phoenix, Arizona	1	A dog was found distressed inside a closed vehicle at Papago Park. While police attempted to move the dog to a cooler location, the dog bit an officer, ran from the location, and has not been found.
4/16/2026	Nazareth, Pennsylvania	1	A dog was rescued by police after being found confined in a hot car with the window slightly ajar. Temperatures reached the upper 80s on the day of the rescue.
4/15/2026	Smithfield, North Carolina	1	A bulldog was found locked in a car, without water. It was 90 degrees outside, and the window was cracked less than an inch. The dog was rescued by police.
3/31/2026	Scranton, Pennsylvania	2	Two dogs were left in a car outside a hospital for more than 8 hours with temperatures above 70 degrees. Police checked on the dogs earlier in the day, noting they were not distressed, but returned later and filed animal cruelty charges.
3/22/2026	Vallejo, California	4	Four kittens were rescued after being found in a plastic trash bag on the sidewalk during a heatwave. The kittens were brought to a humane society, where they were medically cleared before being placed in foster care.
3/21/2026	Clearwater, Florida	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car outside a concert venue, with the windows up and an empty water bowl. Temperatures were 72 degrees outside, with the interior temperature 10-20 degrees warmer. The dog, found covered in poop and matted fur, was transported to an animal hospital for care.
3/15/2026	Glendale, Arizona	1	A dog was rescued after being left in a hot car for hours. Officers found the dog in a locked car panting, with the window slightly cracked, outside of Desert Diamond Arena while the dog’s guardian was practicing inside. The dog was surrendered and taken to an animal shelter.
3/5/2026	Milton, Florida	1	A cat named Bink was rescued after being left inside a hot car for over a week without adequate food or water. It was 63 degrees outside, while temperatures reaching 85.8 degrees inside the car. Bink was taken to a vet for care, where he was treated for dehydration and an elevated body temperature of 103.7 degrees.
2/27/2026	Kennesaw, Georgia	1	A dog was found in a hot car outside of a shopping center, left in a crate covered by a blanket. It was 65 degrees and sunny, and police estimated the car’s interior temperature exceeded 100 degrees.

No animal should endure a heat-related death. It’s inexcusable.

As guardians, we must take these vital steps in order to protect our beloved family members:

1. Keep dogs and cats indoors.

Unlike humans, dogs can sweat only through their footpads and cool themselves by panting, which makes it extra hard for them to beat the heat. Being left outside in hot weather can cause heat stress, injury, or death.

2. Never leave your dog—or any other animal—in a hot car.

It’s like being baked alive. Heatstroke can happen in just minutes, even with the car’s windows partially rolled down. And opening a window slightly won’t help—parking in the shade or leaving water in the vehicle won’t prevent your dog from overheating, either.

3. If you see a dog in a hot car …

… call 911 immediately. While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, write down the car’s make, model, and license plate number, or take a picture of the vehicle and go to the nearest building to find a manager and ask that the owner of the car be paged. If authorities are unresponsive or too slow to respond and the animal’s life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness who will back up your assessment before carefully removing the animal from the car and carrying him or her into the shade. PETA offers an emergency window-breaking hammer for help with intervening in these life-or-death situations. Don’t leave until the authorities arrive on the scene and you know that the dog is safe. Learn more about what to do if you see a dog in a hot car.

4. Recognize the symptoms of heatstroke, and take action if you see them.

Heatstroke is a potentially fatal emergency. Symptoms include restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite or coordination. If a dog is exhibiting these signs, attempt to lower the body temperature by providing the animal with water and applying a cold towel to the head and chest. If someone is with you, one of you should take these steps in the car as the other drives the dog to a veterinarian.

5. Be mindful when walking a dog in hot weather.

On a hot day, the pavement on sidewalks can reach temperatures between 130 and 180 degrees, which is hot enough to hurt your dog’s feet and even seriously burn them. Here are some helpful tips when walking your companion in the heat:

Always test the pavement with the palm of your hand before setting out—if it feels hot, it’s too hot for Spot.
Walk early in the morning or late in the evening, when it’s cooler.
Choose shady routes.
Carry water, and take frequent breaks.
Never make dogs wear muzzles or halters that restrict their breathing.
Opt for a lightweight fabric collar or a nifty Swamp Cooler vest.
Walk—don’t run. Dogs will run to the point of collapse just to please you. At that point, it may be too late to save them.

Together, we can help drastically reduce the number of dogs and other animal companions who die in hot weather and even eliminate these tragedies altogether. Animals are counting on us—as their guardians and as good Samaritans—to keep them safe. We mustn’t let them down.

Take Action Now

The Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats (HOT CARS) Act of 2017 aims to minimize the number of children and animals who die in hot cars every year by requiring that automakers equip all vehicles with technology that alerts drivers when a passenger remains in the backseat after the engine has been turned off. Sadly, since the bill was introduced, more deaths have occurred—and there will certainly be more in the months ahead. But we can prevent tragedies like these. Click below to help:

Tell Lawmakers to Take Action for Kids and Animals Left in Hot Cars

Make sure that all your friends and family know the potentially lifesaving hot weather tips above.

Watch this video, listen to this radio clip, and check out this ad to learn more about the reasons why you should never leave a dog in a hot car.